INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION, QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS IN WELDING

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1 L.Quintino a R.Ferraz b I. Fernandes c a TU Lisbon (Portugal), EWF-IAB/IIW Chief Executive b ISQ (Portugal), IAB Chief Executive c ISQ (Portugal), EWF-IAB/IIW System Manager ABSTRACT Welding technology is involved in a major part of metal constructions many of which require tight technical specifications and quality control. The risks associated with a default in operation of a welded construction can be very severe as shown by examples from the past, which led to the loss of human lives and high material damages. A way to minimise the risks during the welding constructions is to have competent people engaged on the fabrication, this can be obtain via the training and qualification of he welding related personnel. The International System for Education and Qualification of Welding Personnel has been implemented based on the harmonised European System for education and qualification of welding personnel. This paper gives an overview of the International System focusing on the training guidelines and the quality assurance system developed. Systems for harmonisation of Certification of Welding Personnel and for supporting companies using welding to implement ISO 3834 have been developed by EWF and are presently being transferred to IIW in line with the EWF/IIW agreement established in IIW-Thesaurus keywords: Education; Welding; Personnel qualification; Recommendations; Rules. 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 1/13

2 1 INTRODUCTION The EWF-European Welding Federation work on the development of harmonised courses which started in 1980, resulted in the implementation of a series of Guidelines and in the definition of examination criteria for welding personnel. In parallel, the IIW International Institute of Welding, Commission XIV Education and Training has dedicated its activity to the interchange of know-how in training in welding. In 1998, EWF and IIW signed the first agreement of co-operation towards the development of a single international system for education and qualification of welding personnel. By use of a single syllabus for each level of training course and a harmonized system for examinations management, the same qualification may be awarded in any country. EWF has further developed the system towards certification of welding personnel and as well developed a system for certification of companies complying with the ISO 3834 requirements. These systems have been implemented in Europe for the last ten years. EWF and IIW agreed to transfer these systems to IIW and the approval and start of implementation of the IIW Certification Systems for Welding Personnel and Companies according to ISO 3834 at international level is now initiating in THE INTERNATIONAL AUTHORISATION BOARD IAB In order to administer the training and qualification system and to develop it still further, the IIW has established the IAB International Authorisation Board. This organisation aimed at the effective implementation of the system in all IIW countries, by publishing Guidelines for training syllabuses and examinations and implementing the Quality Assurance system controlling the system. An Organisation, recognised by the IIW National member, is appointed as the Authorised National Body (ANB) for the supervision of the system in each country. Representatives from these ANBs form the operational management within the IAB, nominate and approve Lead Assessors and Peer Assessors who ensure conformity of each ANB to agreed Rules. The IIW has operated such a system for eight years, offering courses and qualifications for Welding Engineers, Inspectors, Welders and others. These qualifications form the basis of the widely accepted International Diplomas. 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 2/13

3 This international system now comprises the documents given in Figure 1. Education, Examination and Qualification Guidelines for: - Personnel with Responsibility for Welding Coordination (includes former International Welding Engineer IWE, International Welding Technologist IWT, International Welding Specialist IWS, International Welding Practitioner IWP) - International Welding Inspection Personnel IWIP - International Welder IW - International Welded Structures Designer IWSD - Distance Learning (IWE, IWT, IWS, IWIP C/S ) Rules and Procedures for the implementation of IIW Guidelines for the Education, Examination and Qualification of Welding Personnel. Figure 1 IIW International Qualification System documents There are now 35 countries that have joined this system and become an Authorised National Body, as follows: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and United Kingdom. There are 4 Countries with the ANB Applicant Status, as follows: Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey and United States of America. 3 THE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR WELDING PERSONNEL The harmonised courses, are now offered around the world through IIW/IAB. There are more than 625 Authorised Training Bodies approved and supervised by the ANBs for implementing the IIW Qualification courses, which combine both underpinning knowledge and application experience, thereby providing close links with industrial practice. After the main education, special courses for additional learning are offered in many special areas, thus providing a specific education still closer to the job function. The existing Guidelines define the course syllabus, defining for each subject objectives, scope and expected results, including the minimum teaching duration in hours assigned to them (Figures 2 and 3). Access to the harmonised courses is allowed only to those who possess an appropriate general education, equivalent but different for each country as these are based on national education systems. 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 3/13

4 IWE IWS WELDING PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT 93 h WELDING PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT 45 h MATERIALS 111 h MATERIALS 47 h CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN 64 h CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN 22 h FABRICATION APPLICATIONS 110 h FABRICATION APPLICATIONS 53 h PRACTICAL PART 60 h PRACTICAL PART 60 h TOTAL 438 h TOTAL 227 h IWT IWP WELDING PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT 76 h WELDING PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT 22 h MATERIALS 82 h MATERIALS 22 h CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN 40 h CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN 8 h FABRICATION APPLICATIONS 80 h FABRICATION APPLICATIONS 28 h PRACTICAL PART 60 h PRACTICAL PART 60 h TOTAL 338 h TOTAL 140 h IWIP IWI-C IWI-S IWI-B Comprehensive Standard Basic WELDING PROCESSES AND EQUIPMENT 23 h 13 h 11 h MATERIALS 52 h 41 h 25 h CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN 21 h 17 h 12 h FABRICATION APPLICATIONS 24 h 23 h 17 h WELDING INSPECTION MODULES 48 h 40 h 27 h PRACTICAL PART 49 h 23 h 15 h TOTAL 217 h 157 h 107 h Figure 2 Example of themes and teaching times for five qualification levels 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 4/13

5 Access 6 Module 6 EN ISO 9606 test(s) Theory Modules A + B + C + S (+ P) International Pipe Welder Module 5 Access 5 Access 4 Module 4 EN ISO 9606 test(s) *) Theory Modules A + B + S (+ P) International Plate Welder *) Module 3 Access 3 Access 2 Module 2 EN ISO 9606 test(s) *) Theory Modules A + S (+ P) International Fillet Welder *) Module 1 Access *) At the option of the ATB and in agreement with the ANB, it may not be necessary to issue intermediate certificates and diplomas. Figure 3 The over-all structure of training and examination of the international welder At International level within IIW-IAB activities, the work under development comprises the development of new Guidelines: Mechanized Welding Operators and Mechanical Destructive Testing at Specialist Level and the Definitions of a Harmonised Examination System that includes Questions and Answers databanks and Operating Procedures. For more information it is possible to download short versions of each IIW Qualification Guideline, on the IIW web site ( and EWF web site ( 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 5/13

6 4 THE INTERNATIONAL HARMONISED EXAMINATION FOR THE TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION SYSTEM FOR WELDING PERSONNEL The IIW is aware of the importance of the mobility of labour within the world wide community, and a lot of work has been put on the harmonisation of a standard examination system, to ensure that welding personnel trained in the EWF-IIW/IAB system is examined in a uniform way, so that those gaining a Diploma in any EWF-IIW/IAB Member will have achieved the same minimum standard. This will be obtained by the development and implementation of a EWF-IIW/IAB Harmonised Examination. To achieve the above mentioned goal, rules and procedures have been approved, and also an Internet Database Software tool has been developed. The Harmonised Examination Questions Database will be shared by all EWF-IIW/IAB members. The Database Software enables several features, such as: the approval of questions by Teams of International Experts, the translation of the questions to the several Members mother languages, automatic generation of harmonised exams, sort out statistics regarding the questions used on the exams and automatic exams scoring. Examples of Database Software Screens are shown below, focusing questions, exams and users tools (see Figures 4 to 6). Figure 4 Database Software screen regarding the list of questions with active status 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 6/13

7 Figure 5 Database Software screen regarding Exams Generation Figure 6 Database Software screen regarding Users 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 7/13

8 5 IIW CERTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR WELDING PERSONNEL Safety and profit depend on technical control of welding operations. Key staff in all welding related activities needs to have an appropriate level of competence in welding technology and its application. In addition to employing competent and tested welders, manufacturers should ensure that engineers, designers and technicians who deal with welding matters have proven relevant competence. This is increasingly becoming a contract requirement: a trend which is expected to accelerate as new European Directives and International Standards for welding come into force. ISO Welding Coordination Tasks and Responsibilities requires people with welding related responsibilities to be able to demonstrate that they are competent to carry out those responsibilities. The IIW Certification Scheme provides a simple means by which job capability can be assessed and recognised. It defines the profile of education, knowledge, experience and responsibility required for a range of conventional welding tasks, and provides a professional assessment procedure. Because certification is concerned with current competence rather than historical attainment, periodic renewal is required. The scheme provides a convincing way of supporting companies seeking to achieve compliance with ISO It must be remembered that the only body which can issue an authority to work to an individual is the employer: EWF and IIW are only in a position to assist and support this process in a way which is convincing to the employer s customers particularly in relation to ISO Employers may also require some third party certification of their welding operations and one route to achieve this is the ISO Although it does not require the welding co-ordinators to hold any particular qualification or certification, possession by the Welding Co-ordinators of a relevant IIW certificate will assist in the process of company certification. Four levels of certification are available, based on the past first four EWF Diplomas: European Welding Engineer, Technologist, Specialist and Practitioner nowadays replaced by the existing International Welding Engineer, Technologist, Specialist and Practitioner. The first three of these qualifications are deemed to satisfy the technical knowledge requirements of ISO st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 8/13

9 1 2 3 Technical Knowledge Requirement - International/European Welding Engineer (IIW/EWF Diploma) 2 years recent experience - Relevant job content and level Demonstration of maintaining and developing technical knowledge 4 ANB Assessment 5 Issue of Certificate - Certified International/European Welding Engineer (Renewed every 3 years by repeating steps 2,3 and 4 above - Surveillance ) Figure 7 Steps to certification Figure 7 shows the route to achieve Engineer level certification and the route for the other levels are similar. The certification titles are shown in Figure 8. Welding knowledge qualification Certification title level required Certified International/European Welding International/European Welding Engineer Engineer Certified International/European Welding International/European Welding Technologist Technologist Certified International/European Welding International/European Welding Specialist Specialist Certified International/European Welding International/European Welding Practitioner Practitioner Figure 8 Certification and qualification titles The EWF welding personnel certification system was transferred to IIW in So far five European members have implemented the system and the opening of the system to the International community is expected to strongly increase its use worldwide. 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 9/13

10 6 MANAGEMENT OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR WELDING PERSONNEL In order to ensure that the mechanism by which the education and training Guidelines established by IIW/IAB are implemented throughout the world, IAB appoints an organisation in each country. These organisations are assessed and monitored against a set of rules compiled in the IAB Doc.IAB Rules for the implementation of IAB Guidelines for the education, examination and qualification of welding personnel and Operational Procedures. These organisations are known as Authorised National Bodies (ANBs) and are responsible for ensuring that the standards of education, examination and qualification are maintained in their country. In this, the objective is that qualified personnel at a certain level will achieve the same minimum level of knowledge, irrespective to the country in which they have been qualified. The role of the ANB in its own country regarding personnel qualification includes: i) The approval of training establishments, ATB- Authorised Training Body, for the conduct of courses in accordance with IIW guidelines. ii) iii) The conduct of the examinations. The qualification and certification of personnel and the recording of relevant information. An ANB accepts responsibility in its own country for the implementation of the IIW/IAB requirements, for the maintenance of the agreed standards, and for promoting IIW qualifications in accordance with the provisions of this Document. The ATBs - Authorised Training Bodies are approved by the National ANBs to implement the IIW training courses aiming at awarding the IIW Qualification Diplomas. This recognition is based on audits conducted by the National ANB, through which it is assured that the ATB has the capabilities to fulfil the requirements defined under the IIW rules, procedures and guidelines. The ANB has the responsibility to develop and score the exams. The ATBs are allowed to invigilate the written exams. If oral exams are needed the examination panel is composed by ANB and ATB representatives. It is possible to approve ATBs in countries that are not IIW members and this can be done trough agreements between the applicant ATB and an active ANB from another country. This approval is ruled by a specific procedure. 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 10/13

11 7 THE EWF AND IIW PERSONNEL T&Q&CERT. EVOLUTION IN FIGURES Below is show some tables with the evolution of awarded Diplomas and certificates under the International and European Systems for Welding Personnel regarding the Qualification and Certification. IIW TOTAL CUMULATED DIPLOMAS AWARDED Until 2007 Thousands EWF TOTAL CUMULATED DIPLOMAS AWARDED 106,95 104,63 85,48 94, ,97 58,87 48,15 40,02 33,02 26,20 21,15 15, Until 2007 Figure 9 IIW and EWF Cumulated Diplomas awarded 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 11/13

12 Figure 10 IIW and EWF Cumulated Diplomas awarded per Level of Qualification 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 12/13

13 PERSONNEL CERTIFICATION SCHEME Only New Certificates CEWE CEWT CEWS CEWP TOTAL Cumulative Figure 11 EWF Cumulated Certificates Awarded, no figures regarding IIW System because it has been approved in January CONCLUSION The International Education, Qualification and Certification Systems for Welding Personnel are recognised worldwide and objectively supported by industry and by international training and accreditation entities, opening the way towards one Global Education, Qualification and Certification Systems for Welding Personnel. The relevance of these International Systems are increasing worldwide generating interest of new countries to enter the system. Every year new countries apply for membership of which Indonesia, Nigeria, turkey and United States are examples. The consolidation of the International System is in good progress with an average number of diplomas awarded of per year and an expected growth of approximately 5 % per year. This consolidation being further ensured through the implementation of a harmonised examination system, which now represents 25 % of the total examination paper for International welding engineers. Contact EWF-IAB/IIW Secretariat Av. Prof. Dr. Cavaco Silva, 33 Taguspark Apartado 012 P Porto Salvo Portugal Tel: Fax: [email protected] 1 st IIW International Regional Conference Nigeria March 2009 Page 13/13